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SB 2694

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE--DISABLED VETERAN HOME MODIFICATION ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 10 co-sponsors

Rhode Island SB 2694 waives building permit and related fees for home mods needed for VA-rated disabilities, while standardizing statewide electronic permitting.

05/20/2026 Referred to House Veterans Affairs
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Bill Summary · SB 2694

Overview

  • bill: SB 2694
  • session: Rhode Island, 2026
  • main aim: modify the state building code and related administrative processes to address disabled veterans’ home modifications, including waivers of certain fees for those modifications.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes that building-related improvements to a veteran’s residence required to accommodate a service-connected disability, funded or necessitated by the VA-disability rating, may be exempt from building fees.
  • Aligns broader state building code administration and electronic permitting with modernization efforts, and clarifies fee use and program funding related to permit management and training.

Key Provisions and Changes

  1. Fees and Disabled Veteran Exemption (Section 23-27.3-108.2, subsections (c)(iii))

    • Veterans with a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (or their caregivers) shall not be charged any building-related fees for improvements needed to accommodate the veteran’s disability.
    • Exemption applies to:
      • Building permit fees
      • Plan review fees
      • Plan examination fees
      • Inspection fees
      • Reinspection fees
      • Other related fees
    • Requires the veteran or caregiver to provide VA disability proof and attest that the improvements are required for the disability.
    • Note: While fees are waived, the standard permit application process (forms, paperwork) remains required.

  2. Electronic Permitting and Statewide Coordination (Sections 23-27.3-108.2, subsections (d)-(h))

    • Maintains and regulates electronic permitting (plan review, permitting, inspections, etc.) to be standardized and statewide.
    • Requires standard statewide processes for electronic plan review, permit management, and inspections by specified deadlines (historical text references 2013 timelines; the bill here cites coordination with the state fire marshal and the Department of Business Regulation for a uniform system).
    • Creates and funds a web-accessible permitting system to be used by the state and municipalities.
    • Portions of permit fees (where applicable) support:
      • The statewide electronic permitting system (general revenues)
      • Residential contractor training grants (via the contractor training restricted account, targeting programs including minority business enterprises and official training for state/local building officials), subject to appropriation
    • Other electronic permitting fee provisions and requirements for other agencies/towns are maintained.

  3. Administrative and Reporting Requirements (Section 23-27.3-108.2, subsections (f), (h), (i)-(k))

    • The building commissioner acts as executive secretary to the state building code standards committee.
    • Requires regular reporting (April 1 annually, with updates on compliance status and recommendations) regarding:
      • Which municipalities/agencies comply with the electronic permitting provisions
      • Noncompliance and reasons
      • Recommendations to improve compliance
    • The commissioner coordinates with the state fire marshal on related sections and, if needed, assists in enforcing provisions where there is no local building official.
    • Maintains a mechanism to certify payments for state contractors under certain conditions.

  4. Effective Date

    • Takes effect upon passage.

Who and What Is Affected

  • Disabled veterans (and their caregivers) in Rhode Island seeking home modifications to accommodate disabilities
    • Eligible for waivers of all applicable building-related permit and inspection fees for such modifications, provided proof of VA disability rating is submitted.
  • Homeowners and contractors performing veteran-related modifications
    • Subject to the broader electronic permitting system and funding mechanisms for statewide process improvements.
  • State and municipal building departments
    • Must implement standardized electronic permitting, participate in the statewide system, and adhere to reporting and compliance requirements.
  • Contractors and apprentices
    • Potentially benefit from expanded access to training grants funded by permit fee revenues, contingent on appropriation.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill references ongoing implementation and reporting requirements for electronic permitting and standardization, with annual reporting on compliance beginning annually (noting a past reference to April 1, 2013, for initial statuses; the current bill would require ongoing updates).
  • It mandates coordination with the state fire marshal and the Department of Business Regulation for technology planning and system development.
  • Effective date is immediate upon enactment.

Potential Impacts

  • Direct financial impact for eligible veterans: elimination of most building-related fees for disability-improvement projects, reducing out-of-pocket costs for home modifications.
  • Administrative impact: heightened standardization of permitting processes across Rhode Island, with a single statewide electronic permitting system to improve efficiency, consistency, and oversight.
  • Budgetary impact: fees collected for electronic permitting would fund the statewide system and related training programs, within appropriations and general revenue rules.
  • Access and equity: potential enhancement of opportunities for minority-owned enterprises and training programs via targeted grants funded by permit revenues.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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